Lumber sorter



Sept. 19, 1961 H. E. BovAY, JR., ETAL LUMBER SORTER Filed Nov. 29, 19554 Sheets-Sheet 1 VINVENTORS HARRY E. 50i/A YJ/ CHARLES L'. LA WLEEL/ONEL H. WHEELE/.

AGE/VT Sept. 19, 1961 Filed NOV. 29, 1955 H. E. BOVAY, JR., ET AL LUMBERSORTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY Jo/VEL H n/HEELEE Sept. 19, 1961 H. E. BovAY,JR., ET AL 3,000,499

LUMBER SORTER Filed Nov. 29, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m L 32)/ AGENT f/LSept 19, 1961 H. E. BVAY, JR., ET AL 3,000,499

LUMBER SORTER Filed Nov, 29, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I lll `li /A /m500266' 0F ,fr/6,5 EL E6 'E/' POWER INVENTORS HA REY E. BOI/AVJ. BYCHAELES E. LAWLER L/ONEL H. WHEELEE United States Patent() 3,000,499LUMBER SORTER Harry E. Bovay, Jr., Charles A. Lawler, and Lionel H.Wheeler, Houston, Tex., assignors to H. E. Bovay, Jr., ConsultingEngineers, Houston, Tex., a partnership Filed Nov. 29, 1955, Ser. No.549,623 7 Claims. (Cl. 209-90) 'This invention pertains to the sortingof lumber according to its length. Certain features of the invention areapplicable to the sorting of other things besides lumber and to sortingaccording to other dimensions than length and other functions orqualities than the dimensions of an article.

The invention is particularly adapted to sorting a mixture of lumber ofdifferent lengths in which one group of lumber differs in length fromthe remaining lumber by a predetermined minimum length. United StatesPatent Number 2,636,601, issued April 28, 1953 to Harry E. Bovay, Jr.,Charles A. Lawler, and Lionel H. Wheeler, discloses apparatus of thetype with which the present invention is concerned.

The invention disclosed in said patent includes a plurality of lumberguiding parallel sorter slots or channels having one or more live rollsin their bottoms to convey the lumber therealong. There are a pluralityof side openings along the lengths of the slots and a storage bayadjacent each opening. Each bay includes a chain conveyor transverse tothe slots. A normally open automatic gate is disposed at the downstreamend of each opening, closureof a gate deflecting lumber out of the slotthrough the opening. Spaced apart along the slot upstream from each gateare the actuators for two normally closed electric switches and midwaybetween the two actuators is the actuator for a normally open electricswitch. The three switches are in series and closure of all three, whenlumber'th'at is short enough tol closel the middle switch withoutsimultaneously opening either of the other switches passes through theslot, will actuate the gate associated therewith to deflect the lumber.Lumber of successively greater lengths is discharged from the successiveslot openings into the several storage bays. According to the presentinvention an improved apparatus of this type and a superior method forhandling lumber in conjunction with such apparatus is provided.

A principal object of the invention is to provide in such apparatusmeans for increasing the storage capacity of the accumulation bays for agiven overall width of the sorter and accumulation bays.

A second principal object of the invention is to provide such apparatusin which damage to lumber from the sorter and the accumulation bayconveyors is eliminated.

In accordance with the first principal object of the invention, furtherobjects of the invention are:

(a) To stack the lumber straight across the bay con# veyors instead ofrandomly askew so the lumber will be more compact. This also has theadvantage of making the lumber easier to handle.

(b) To drop the lumber straight down from the sorter onto the bayconveyors so lthat there is no wasted storage space between the sides ofthe sorter and the place where the lumber falls onto the bay conveyors,i.e. the lumber falls right at the side of the sorter.

To attain the above ends further objects of the invention are to providemeans and methods for:

(a) Stopping the side or horizontal motion of the lumber so that thelumber will drop straight down onto the bay conveyors from the sorter.

(b) Guiding the lumber dropping down so that all boards are straightacross the bayconveyors rather than randomly askew.

ICC

(c) Protecting the bay conveyor sprockets adjacent the sorter fromdamage caused by the falling lumber. This is accomplished by movingthese sprockets inwardly from the sides of the sorter to a positioncentered beneath the sorter whose common support means can be used forsprockets of conveyors at both sides of the sorter. This also has theadvantage of reducing the cost of the sprocket support means.

The apparatus provided in achieving the first principal object also hasthe advantage of helping to fulfill the second principal object by moresmoothly guiding the lumber from the sorter to the conveyors.

Further to electuate the second principal object addi-. tional objectsof the invention are:

(a) To more smoothly guide the lumber on the sorter.

(b) To more smoothly initiate the motion of the lum. ber off of thesorter. Y

Additional objects, uses, advantages, and improvements of the inventionwill appear from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIGUREV 1 is a schematic plan of apparatus according to the invention,showing a sorting conveyor and ten storage bays at the sides thereof,the improvements acf cording to the inventionbeing for clarity shown atonly one of the ten bays, namely the next to the last bay on the rightof the conveyor; and certain small details of the improvements such asthe switch actuators being omitted entirely because of their small size;l'

FIGURE 2 is a schematic end elevation of the FIG- URE 1 apparatus,improvements according to the invention being shown at both sides of theconveyor;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view to an enlarged scale of a single unit of theapparatus showing the improvements according to the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the unit shown in FIGURE 3; l

FIGURE 5 is a diagram showing the electrical circuit of the switches andsolenoid; ,Y

FIGURE 6 is a detail in plan and section of a gate and its actuatingpiston and cylinder together with a schematic representation of a fourway valve suitable for actuating the cylinder;

FIGURE 7 is a detail in elevation of a solenoid and the valve of FIGURE6;

FIGURE 8 is a plan View, partly in section, of a switch and itsguide-actuator suitable for use in the invention;l

FIGURE 9 is a back view of the switch and guide-- actuator of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a partial end elevation of the switch and guide-actuator ofFIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a front elevation of an accumulation' bay stop;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevation of the stop shown in FIGURE 11;

(Ii-TIGURE 13 is a side elevation of the hanging bae;y an

FIGURE 14 is an end elevation of the hanging bae.

Sorter overall (FIGS. 1, 2)

3 sloping plane so that lumber placed thereon Will move along bygravity. However, it is desirable that the speed Yof the conveyor becontrollable Whether positively driven or gravity driven.

On each side of the conveyor and at a lower level are disposed a numberof temporary storage bays 20-29, each having one of the chain conveyors30-39 therein. The conveyors 3G-39 are each adapted to receive aparticular assortment of lumber from the side of the conveyor 10, andthe conveyors 30-39 are perpendicularly disposed from the conveyor 10 inthe preferred embodiment shown. Each of the conveyors 30-39 is shown asa chain conveyor having the chains thereof disposed between a pair ofidler sprockets 40 and a pair of drive sprockets 41 to the sides ofconveyor 10. The idler sprockets 4t) are supported on a common shaft 42which is disposed beneath the conveyor 10 and centrally thereof. Theshaft 42 supports the idler sprockets 40 of the conveyors 30-39 to bothsides of the conveyor 10 and is a dead shaft on which each of thesprockets 40 turns. The bay conveyors 30-39 deliver the lumber to otherconveyors such as the cross conveyor 43 which receives lumber from bayconveyors S-39. A similar cross conveyor is usually provided at the endsof conveyors 30-34 at the opposite side of conveyor 10. The crossconveyors deliver the lumber to stackers, storage, kilns, or to loadingplatforms for truck or rail shipment.

Each of the bays -29 is just below a single unit of the sorter or is atthe end of a slot. Thus on the left side of the sorter as viewed inFIGURE l the slot 13--14 has two units including gates 44 and 45 abovebays 20 and 21 and a unit at the end of the slot including xed stop 46above bay 22. Slot 14-15, disposed just inside slot 13-14 and extendingbeyond slot 13-14 has a unit including gate 47 above bay 23 and a unitat `the end of the slot including xed stop 48 above bay 24. On the rightside of the sorter slot 16-17 has ve units including gates 49, 50, 51and 52 and xed stop 53 above bays -29 as shown. Although the gates arenormally open in the absence of lumber, they are shown yin the closedposition in FIGURE l for the purpose of clarity of the drawing.

Into each of the bays 20-22 are sorted boards of different length asindicated in the drawing. These boards come vfrom the same slot 13-14,and may contain a similar assortment of lumber as to othercharacteristics such as width, thickness, and grade, depending on whatis placed in the slot by the operator. A different assortment of width,thickness, and grade is sorted according to length into bays 23 and 24.Another assortment is sorted out into bays 25-29. As many slots and asmany sorting units as necessary can be provided. If desired, enoughslots and units can be provided so that the lumber in each bay is of asingle kind as regards not only its length but all of itsspecifications. The provision of the length sorting units along theslots will in any case reduce the total number of slots required fromthat needed in a system not embodying sorting units.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, there is shown the details of onesorting unit of the sorter, for example the sorting unit over bay 27 ofthe sorter. In comparing FIGURE 3 with FIGURE l it is to be rememberedthat the improvements in the stackers, hereinafter later described,disposed over the several storage bays, are shown only over bay 28 inFIGURE 1, but that similar stacker equipment is in fact associated witheach bay. The conveyor rolls 11 are journaled in bearings 55 supportedon the framework 12. The guides 16 and 17, and the guides 13-15 of theother sorting units, are supported on this framework, too, as are thegate 51 and the three switches 56, 57, and 58. The whole framework issupported well olf the ground (as shown in FIGURE 2) so as to be abovethe level of the bays and their chain conveyors.

4 Sorting unit (FIGS. 3, 4)

The switches 56, 57, and 58 are respectively controlled by actuators 59,60, and 61. Actuator 59 projects into the slot 16-17 through an openingin guide 17 and the extent of projection into the slot is adjustable bymeans of slots 62 and 63 in plate 64 on which actuator 59 is mounted. Apair of screws (not shown) pass through these slots to fasten the plate64 onto the framework and the adjustment is made by loosening the screwsand sliding plate 64 inwardly or outwardly.

Actuators 60 and 61 and the associated switches and mountings arepreferably identical with actuator 59 and its switch and are mounted soas to be interchangeable therewith. Actuators 60 and 61 are mounted toproject up from beneath the plane of rollers 11 of conveyor 10.

The gate 51 extends from and is fastened to a sleeve 65. Sleeve 65 ismounted on a fixed Vertical shaft 66 and is rotatable around shaft 66 inorder that gate 51 may be moved between its open and closed positionsabove the conveyor 10. Gate 51 comprises triangular plate 67 onto whichare secured a front plate 68 and a back plate 69. (See also FIGURE 6.)The front plate 68 has its forward end beveled as at 170 so that theforward end contacts the guide 16 ilatly when the gate 51 is moveddiagonally across slot 16--17 to its slotclosing position. The backplate 69 serves to guide the lumber passing through the slot when thegate is open and also strengthens the gate.

The lower end of sleeve 65 carries an arm 177 which is pivotallyconnected to piston rod 178 of the air cylinder 79 which is also securedto the bracket 12. Below the air cylinder 79 is mounted air valve 80 andsolenoid 81 which preferably are a single fast acting unit of some typesuch as that shown in U.S. Patent 2,476,519, Van der Werf, and which isonly schematically shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

Stacker (FIGS. 144, 13, 14)

There is a gap in the guide 17 which extends from just downstream ofswitch actuator S9 to the gate 51 and serves as a side-opening means linslot 16-1'7 through which lumber may be diverted from the slot. Adjacentthe upstream end of the gap a stop 7G is supported from the framework 12by a gusset plate 71. The stop 70 is shaped like a quadrant of anellipse so that the outer end lies in a plane perpendicular to the slotwalls. Outward from the outer end of stop 70 and parallel to andopposite the gap in guide 17 is a hanging baffle 72 which is hung froman upper framework. A similar stop 7i) and baille 72 for the unit overbay 28 are shown in FIG- URE l, this being the only unit of FIGURE lfrom which the stacker has lnot been omitted for drawing simplicity. Itis to be understood however that each unit of the sorter is providedwith a similar stacker as now described for the unit over bay'28.

Hanging baille 72 is parallel to the slot walls and comprises aplurality of suspended arms 73 (see also FIG- URES 13 and 14), a lowerdiagonal plate member 74 secured to arms 73 and having triangularsupport members 75 which hold the member 74 in its diagonal positionwith respect to the arms 73. At the upper end of each arm 73 there isprovided a tubular member 76 secured to the arm through which a bolt,pin, or shaft supported by the framework may be passed to swing'- inglysuspend the arms 73, all of the members 76 being aligned. Hanging baflle72 is positioned with respect to stop 70 and the gap in guide 17 so thatlumber striking stop 7Gl after being diverted from the slot by gate 51will be thrown outwardly against baille 72 which will stop the outwardhorizontal motion of the lumber. Batlle 72 is preferably a hangingbaille as shown so that it is capable of absorbing the impact whenlumber is thus thrown against it and in order that lumber may fall belowthe baille in a manner to be described.

:sie slide or skid 77' (SeeLFIGUREs 1, 2, ands) 'comprising a pluralityof curved pipes 78 is provided between the conveyor 10 and the bayconveyor 37, and is curved :and positioned to contact the inner edge ofplate member "74 when baille 72 is hanging straight down. The upper endsof pipes 78 are secured'to the framework at the side of conveyor 10 andare curved outwardly and downwardly therefrom to below the upper planeof the bay conveyor `37. The terminal portions of pipes 78 extendvertically straight downward from the plate member 74 to the Abayconveyor 37 so that lumber will fall straight down onto the conveyor.After lumber has been thrown against baille 72 it passes downwardlybetween the skid 77 and the plate member 74, the bafe' 72 being swungback from skid 77, as shown by the dashed lines in FIGURE 2, by theweight of the lumber, and falls straight downward therefrom onto theconveyor 37 in a position straight across the conveyor. The baie 72therefore provides means for stopping the outward motion of the lumberand, with skid 77, means for dropping the lumber .straight onto conveyor37, rather than randomly askew thereon. l

Gate Actuaiion (FIGS. -7)

Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is shown the electric icircuitforoperating the solenoid 81A: The solenoid v.81A is in series withswitches 56, 57, andl58 across a suitable source of electric power notshown. Switches 56 yand 58'are normally closed; switch 57 is normallyopen. 'When all three switches are closed the solenoid will beenergized. In the drawing are also shown the switches and solenoid ofanother unit. As many circuits as neede'd may be supplied in parallelfrom the single source of power.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, it is shown how a four way valve 80A willcontrol the movement of the-piston 181 in air cylinder 79. Rotation ofthe movable central valve part 82 a quarter turn clockwise within thestationjay part 83 will transfer the air pressure from the left side of-the piston to the right side and connect the left -side to theatmospheric exhaust, thus causing the piston 'to move to the leftopening the gate 51. A stop (not shown) limits the movement of the gatein the open posiftion, or alternatively the gate can be adjusted to bein full open position at the limit of travel of the piston. The fguide16 then acts' as a stop to limit travelof the gate to fclosed positionas shown in the drawing. 7

FIGURE 7 shows schematically how the valve 80A may be connected to thesolenoid 81A. When the solenoid is energized its core is drawn in andthe core in turn pulls on the link to turn the valve one way. The spring84 returns the valve to its normal position when the circuit through thesolenoid is broken. I

' FIGURES 8-10 show a switch such as `switch 56 adapted to be opened byactuator 59. Switch -5'6 is a switch that is moved from one position toanother by releasing pressure on a button, such as a snap switch.Horizontal -plate 64 having slots' 62 and 63 is screwed onto theframework 12 by screws (not shown) as described heretofore. A narrowervertical plate 85 is secured to plate 64 near the center thereof andwith its edge aligned with an edge of plate 64. A switch guard plate 86is also securedat one ,end of plate 64. The switch has button 87 whichis mounted in a threaded nipple 88 which is held in a rhole in plate 8Sby means of nuts 89 and 90, the button -87 being to the side of plate 85opposite switch guard l86. An adjusting screw 91 having a nut 92 screwed--thereonto is received in a second hole in plate 85 outi-.wardly fromthe other hole. A pair of sleeve members ,93 and 94 are welded to thealigned edge of plate 85 at the upper and lower ends thereof. Anactuator arm 95 has similar sleeve members 96 and 97 welded to one :.ofits faces, the sleeve members 96 and 97 being spaced ,Such that theywill lit vertically between the sleeve members 93'and 94, all of thesleeve mem-bers being" vertical; ly alignable to receive a connectingpin.98 through their openings. When thus connected arm 95 is rotatableabout pin 98 so that the positions of its ends may be simultaneouslymoved. One end of arm 95 extends over plate 85, being bent at a pointtoward that end from pin 98 s'o that it may be positioned substantiallyparallel with plate 85. A hole is provided in arm 95 opposite the switchreceiving hole in plate 85, and an adjusting screw 99 having a nut 100screwed thereonto is received in the hole with its head in a position topress against button 87 of switch 56. The inward end of arm 95 isopposite screw 91. The other end of arm 95 extends outwardly from theplate so as to be positionable to project into the slot 16-17 when theplate 64 is screwed to the framework 12. A spiral spring 101 is disposedaround pin 98 between sleeve members 96 and 97 of arm 95, one end of thespring being flush against the inside face of arm and the other end ofthe spring being bent and against a face of plate 85, the spring 101thereby acting to hold the inward end of arm A95 so that screw 99presses against button 87 and so that the inner end is against the headof screw 91, the other end of arm 95 being held away from switch guard86 and in a projecting position in the slot.

Depression of the projecting portion of the arm 95by lumber movingthrough the slot causes the release of button 87 by the inner portion ofarm 95, the switch 56 being thereby closed. The switches may be chosento be either open or closed when the button is depressed and eitherclosed or open whenl the button is released. Thus the same actuatorconstruction can be used no t only for this normally closed switch 56andsimilar normally closed switch 58, but also for normally open switch57. The hinged arm 95 of this actuator functions more efficiently thantypes having a spring which extends into the slot. In the case of thislatter type, when the spring is depressed by lumber in the slotv only asmall movement of the spring results at the switch, thereby making itnecessary to use a switch actuated by this small motion, for example alimit switch. Since b oth ends of arm 95 are moved to the same extent bylumber passing in the slot, it is made possible to use switches of morepositive action, for example the snap switch of the` present invention.

Lumber retainer (FIGS. I1 and 12) Referring now to FIGURES l, 11 and 12,pivotal stop means 103 (shown only in bay 28 in FIGURE l) are providedat the outer ends of the bay conveyors 30-39 to retain lumber thereon.The stop means are releasable for running lumber off the cross conveyorswhen desired. Each stop means comprises an upright arm 104 which ispivotally connected by a bolt 105 having nut 106 screwed thereon betweena pair of spaced vertical members 107 and 108 of the supportingframework of the bay conveyor, for example bay conveyor 38. The arm 104is beveled at its upper end as at 109 and below the bevel and above theupper edge of members 107 and 108 has a notch 110 at the edge thereof.The notch 110 is rectangular in shape and is adapted to receive a bar111. The bar 111 is pivotally connected to a flange 112, which is shownwelded to member 108 at the top of the side thereof,..by a bolt 1-13having nut 114 screwed thereon. The bolt 105 is off-center of arm 104 sothat arm 104 will by gravity tend to fall in the direction of bar-111.Bar 111 when rotated about bolt 113 to be received in notch 1.10, servesas means for locking arm 104 in the upright position. Lumber on theconveyor, to the right side of arm 104 as shown in FIGURE 12, isprevented from moving past arm 104 on the conveyor. When it is desiredto discharge lumber from the conveyor to the cross conveyor below theend of the conveyor, the bar y111 is arm 104 may be swung down beneaththe upper planeof the conveyor so that the lumber may pass over arm 104on the conveyor to be discharged to the cross conveyor.

Fixed gates (FIG. l)

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the lixed gates or end stops 46, 48, and 53are disposed at the respective ends of slots 13-14, 14-15, and 16 17above conveyor 10. The end stops function as gate means fixed in theclosed position and deilect lumber from the slots at the terminal sideopenings or gaps of the slots. Since all f the lumber moving to theterminal gap of a slot must be deflected, no switch actuators andswitches are there provided.

Operation In operation of the invention, lumber is fed edgewise into aslot at the lower end of conveyor 10, as' shown in FIGURE l. Therotation of rolls 11 of conveyor 1li causes the lumber to move, forexample in slot l6-17, toward the terminal fixed stop 53 of slot 16u17.In moving in that direction along the conveyor l0 the lumber will firstcontact the three switch actuators above bay 25. The actuators controlgate 49, which for a particular length classification of the board willclose to deflect boards from the slot. Any boards of greater length thanthat determined by the switch actuators at bay 2S will continue on pastgate 49 and contact the three switch actuators above bay 26. Theseactuators control gate 50, which for a particular length classificationgreater than that at bay 25 but less than a predetermined length willclose to deflect the board from the slot. Any board either longer orshorter than the particular length classification will either have beendeflected at a previous sorter unit or pass on along the slot past gateS0 to engage the next set of switch actuators above bay 27, and so onuntil the board is deflected from the slot at bay 27, 28 or the terminalbay 29 where all remaining lumber is deilected by the xed stop withoutregard to its length. Lumber of a different length classication isdeflected at each of the bays 2'5--28, depending on the spacing of theswitch actuators above each bay. As is described in U.S. Patent No.2,636,601, mentioned above, each set of switch actuators, solenoid,valve, and gate, will deflect a group of lumber between determinablemaximum and minimum lengths from the slot, dellecting all lumber betweenzero and a certain maximum length at the first unit of the sorter, atthe next unit deflecting all lumber having a length less than a certainlength equal to said maximum length plus a certain additional length,and so on.

Lumber deflected from the slot -by a gate or by a xed stop is stillmoving in the direction of the conveyor at approximately the speed ofthe conveyor and in addition has a lateral motion imparted by thediagonal position of the gate or fixed stop across the slot. The lumberon leaving the slot rst strikes at its forward end against the curvedstop, for example stop 70` at the forward end of the slot opening abovebay 27. The stop 70 halts the forward motion of the lumber in thedirection of the conveyor, and because of the curved shape of stop 70like a quadrant of an ellipse, the lateral motion of the lumber isincreased. The outwardly moving lumber then strikes the arms 73 ofhanging batile 72 broadside, which stops the outward motion of thelumber so that the lumber drops down to a position above diagonal Yplate74 between arms 73 and the pipes 78 of skid 77.

The lumber in this position is straight across with respect to the bayconveyor 37. When lumber of sufficient Weight, one or more separateboards, accumulates above diagonal plate 74, the weight acting on thewedge formed by plate 74 causes hanging baille 72 to move away from thepipes 78 and the lumber then drops down onto bay conveyor 37 in aposition straight across the bay conveyor and adjacent the lower ends ofpipes 78 of the skid.

The bay conveyors 'are used as accumulators for lumber received from thesorter, and therefore it is desirable that each bay conveyor `be able tohold as muchlumber as possible at a given time. The lumber holdingcapacity is increased by the dropping of the lumber from the sorterclose in to the side of the sorter described in the preceding paragraph.Were the lateral motion of the Ilumber not stopped by the hanging baflle72, the lumber would be thrown farther out from the side of conveyor 10,and would alight randomly on the bay conveyor, instead of straightacross it, thereby further reducing its capacity. In addition, thecapacity of each bay conveyor is increased by provision of the endstops, only end stop 103 being shown in FIGURE l, but identical endstops being likewise provided for the other bay conveyors, 30--27 and29, as well. These end stops permit deeper piling of lumber on the bayconveyors, as will be obvious, and in addition prevent accidentaldischarge of lumber from the bay conveyors to the cross conveyors, Vforexample cross conveyor 43, which receives lum-ber from bay conveyors35-39.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown Ianddescribed, many modifications thereto may be made by persons skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the invention, 4and it isdesired to protect by Letters Patent all forms of the invention fallingwithin the scope of the `following claims.

We claim:

1. In broad handling apparatus comprising channel forming meansincluding a conveyor and guide means at each side of the conveyor alongthe length thereof, an opening in the side of the guide means at oneside of the conveyor, said opening being long compared to the width ofthe channel defined between said guide means whereby a board disposed onsaid conveyor with its length in the direction of travel of saidconveyor can be moved transversely off the conveyor through saidopening, gate means at the downstream end of -said opening fordeflecting boards by an acute angle out of said channel through saidopening, forward stop means adjacent said gate means for stopping thecomponent of the board motion parallel to the channel, storage means ata lower level than said conveyor disposed adjacent said opening toreceive boards discharged therefrom, the improvement comprising saidstop means adjacent said channel extending transversely therealongopposite said opening for stopping the horizontal component of the boardmotion perpendicular to the channel, and wherein said storage meansincludes a chain conveyor extending transverse to the channel, saidchain conveyor including a chain sprocket shaft disposed beneath theiirst said conveyor that forms part of said channel, saidk storage meansfurther including skid means guiding boards falling oif the first saidconveyor onto said chain conveyor away from said chain sprocket shaft.

2. The combination of claim l whe-rein said storage means furtherincludes la pivotally mounted stop means at a portion of the chainconveyor removed from said channel, said pivotal `stop means beingprovided with readily operable and releasable means for holding saidpivotal stop means in position to support boards laterally againstmotion along the chain conveyor farther `away from said channel.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said side stop means comprises abaille, means `supporting the bale for pivotal motion about a horizontalaxis adjacent the upper part of the baille whereby the weight of thebaille tends to cause the baille to hang vertically, and wedge means latthe lower part of the baille to swing the baille away from the conveyorin response to board weight imposed on said wedge means, and said skidmeans includes a portion lying next to the lower part of the bailleforming therewith a pocket to receive boards which opens when the bailleswings away from the conveyor.

4. -In board handling apparatus comprising channel forming meansincluding a conveyor and guide means -ateach side. of the conveyor alongthe lengththereof,

an opening in the side of the guide means at one side of the conveyor,said opening being long compared to the width of the channel definedbetween said guide means whereby a board disposed on said conveyor withits length in the direction of travel of said conveyor can be movedtransversely oi the conveyor through said opening, gate means at thedownstream end of said opening for deecting boards by an acute angle outof said channel through said opening, forward stop means adjacent saidgate means for stopping the component of the board motion parallel tothe channel, storage means at a lower level than the top of saidconveyor disposed adjacent said opening to receive boards dischargedtherefrom, said storage means including horizontally disposed meansextending laterally from the conveyor at a lower level than the top ofthe 'conveyor and skid means extending laterally and downwardly from thetop of said conveyor toward said horizontally extending means guidingboards falling oi the conveyor onto said horizontally extending means,the improvement comprising side stop means adjacent said channelextending therealong opposite said opening for stopping the horizontalcomponent of the board motion perpendicular to the channel, said sidestop means comprising a baie and means supporting the baille for pivotalmotion about a horizontal axis above the level of the top of said guidemeans whereby the yWeig-ht of the baille tends to vcause the baiiie tohang vertically, said baille when hanging vertically being spacedhorizontally from said conveyor and extending vertically from above thetop of said guide means to below the top of said conveyor to said skidmeans, the lower portion of said baffle forming with said skid means apocket to receive boards which opens when the lateral pressure of theboards against the baie causes it to swing away from the skid means.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said channel forming meansincludes a plurality of switch actuators near said opening forcontrolling said gate means, each switch actuator comprising a pivotallymounted bell crank shaped plate, each bell crank shaped plate includingone arm normally projecting 4into said channel for actuation by boardspassing therethrough and another arm controlling a switch disposed onthe opposite side of the pivot axis of the actuator from the tirst saidone arm, whereby the motion of the portion of the arm controlling theswitch is away from the switch when boards depress said one arm.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said gate means at the downstreamend of the opening in the guide means comprises a pair of verticalplates contacting each other along a vertical edge of each and lying atan acute angle to each other, and means supporting the plates forpivotal motion about a vertical axis adjacent the edges of said platesopposite from said contacting edges, said contacting edges of saidplates including a beveled portion adapted to lie flat against the guidemeans when the gate is in closed position and the plate on one sidethereof serves to deilect boards through said opening, the other plateof said gate serving to guide boards into said channel when said gate isopen.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said stop means adjacent said gatemeans for stopping the component of the board motion parallel to thechannel includes a vertical plate curved in plan with the portionclosest to the conveyor pointing upstream relative to board travel onthe conveyor being more nearly tangent to the direction of board travelalong the conveyor and the portion adjacent the baiiie beingperpendicular to the baille, whereby the last said component of theboard motion is gradually eliminated.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 674,455Comly May 21, 1901 2,229,638 Chamberlain et al Ian. 28, 1941 2,600,147Wilson .Tune 10, 1952 2,636,601 Bovay et al Apr. 28, 1953 2,762,508Parton Sept. 11, 1956 2,821,301 Montague Jan. 28, 1958

